In today's newsletter:

— Football Fanatics 

— The Knicks Stars' Go-To Hat

— One Wild Paraboots Plug

— A Great Waffle Knit

BEHIND THE SCENES

Everyone's catching World Cup fever right now, but for 11 of the sport's most ardent loyalists — including American football legend Cobi Jones and Crystal Palace center-back Chris Richards — the love of the game is a year-round affair. 

For Highsnobiety's feature on The Life-Changing Power of Football, writer Will Schube connected with true believers about what it's like to be a football fan in America (per Adam Friedland: "I have to justify it by being a snob, by understanding tactics and 'juego de posición'") and how they first became introduced to the sport (for Adem Bona, it was thanks to two older brothers — "We conference call on game days"). Across various professions in sports, music, fashion, and design, these fans have made football a central part of their identity — if not life itself. 

Schube (who remembers his own foundational experience with the sport as a nine-year-old watching Freddy Adu play in his first season against the Galaxy just outside of LA) perfectly summed up what all of these impassioned interviews get at: the fact that football fandom is an inherently shared experience. "No matter where you are, you can find someone who cares about the same club you do," Schube notes. "It's a great way to bond, or make an enemy if they support your rival."

Of the interviews Schube conducted for this feature, one of the most special moments came from interviewing Chris Richards as he was gearing up to play for the USMNT at the World Cup. "This is the biggest sporting event on earth and he was so humble and excited to talk about soccer," Schube says. "His POV as a Black American soccer player is unique and vital, and I was honored he was so open in sharing his story with us." 

STYLE AGENDA

GOOD POINT

—Highsnobiety News Director Jake Silbert on New York's most unexpected Paraboot stockist

SHOPPER SELECT

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES

​UMBRO IS FOOTBALL'S ORIGINAL FASHION BRAND

The Humphrey brothers began selling sportswear from the back of their mother’s pub. Soon, they were outfitting both teams in the FA Cup Final. 

​SIMONE ROCHA:  EVEN THE "MASCULINE WARDROBE [SHOULD] HAVE EMOTION"

In an exclusive interview following her debut at Pitti Uomo, the designer talks about designing not so much for men as for "characters."

HAS THE SNEAKER-MULE FREAKED TOO CLOSE TO THE SUN?

The reverse-mullet of shoe silhouettes, chopped at the back and long up front, has become increasingly bizarre. 

DON'T JUDGE A PERFUME BY ITS BOTTLE — UNLESS  IT'S BOTTEGA VENETA

The Italian house's second fragrance collection, Alta, naturally comes in a very intrecciato-inspired bottle.

ALSO...
We hear Rosalía's latex tutu dress is by London designer Yasmina Atta (Harper's Bazaar), Sofia Coppola is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Marie Antoinette with an exhibit at the Palace of Versailles (Vogue), and apparently this GAP concept designer has more than 100 items in his hat collection (Wardrobe).